The world has changed a lot since last we got ink on our fingers and with the economy still slowly recovering we are publishing every Thursday for now.

But it is great to be back.

The papers will be printed as usual in Townsville and sent by truck to Mount Isa for normal delivery ahead on Thursday morning.

In the last few months Queensland has successfully slowed, then smashed the pandemic curve along with most of the other states.

As I write, Victoria is one obvious exception and has embarked on a serious of tough lockdowns to contain the community spread.

New South Wales has just announced its border closure from Tuesday while Queensland opens its borders from Friday to all states except Victoria.

Recently I interviewed shadow minister for tourism David Crisafulli who told me of the importance of Queensland opening its borders for the sake of the economy.

Yet it is clear that the further away you get from Mr Crisafulli's Gold Coast seat, the less inclined Queenslanders were to open up, especially while cases in Victoria remain rampant.

Our caution is understandable.

We remain just one accident or one careless ill person or superspreader from undoing all our good work and we must remain diligent and careful.

We have to continue to practise social distancing and good hand hygiene for the forseeable future, or at least as long as it takes to develop a vaccine.

And when that vaccine does come, I don't want to hear from those idiots who refuse to take vaccines for themselves or their families for whatever reason they dream up.

It scares me to think that thousands of people already in Victoria have refused to be tested.

There is no room for their stupidity in these dangerous times and if it means testing and vaccines are compulsory, then I support that initiative.

Derek Barry

Note my new email address:

Derek.Barry@northweststar.com.au